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Showing posts with label Power.Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power.Energy. Show all posts
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) reportedly announced its operational approval to the 25th nuclear reactor of South Korea on October 29. Reuters reported on the same day that the approval was confirmed after South Korea's nuclear watchdog released a statement.

Reports have revealed that 24 nuclear reactors supply about one third of South Korea's electricity. In ad-dition, the country plans to add more nuclear reactors aiming to run 36 nuclear reactors by 2029.

A couple of weeks after the pronouncement of the operational approval, the nuclear operator, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd (KHNP) revealed that the new nuclear reactor called Singori 3 is preparing for its official launch and operation.

Korea Joongang Daily forecasted Nov. 5 that new nuclear reactor will be located in Ulsan. Aside from that, reports have revealed that Singori 3 is akin to the nuclear reactor exported by South Korea to the United Arab Emirates back in 2009.

KHNP began the process of fuel loading following the operational approval after passing the safety tests by NSSC.

South Korea's 25th nuclear reactor is slated to officially operate commercially in May 2016. Also, the fuel loading process is forecasted to be finished after a few weeks.

After it is completed, Singori 3 will undertake test operation for seven months before its official commercial operation.

"We hope to gain public trust about the safety of nuclear power by undergoing tough test-operations," the KHNP said in a dispatch.

In 2013, Singori 3 nuclear reactor was involved in a controversy for allegedly using nuclear parts pro-duced by dealers with fake quality certifications, which is why the KHNP highlighted the issue of safety to win back the trust of South Koreans.

The construction of the new nuclear reactor took them a decade after they had to replace all the fake nuclear parts that were used in the reactor. Also, they have incorporated in the construction the 29 safety functions obliged by the NSSC.

The nuclear operator is bullish to rebuild the trust of South Koreans regarding the feature of the APR1400 model by launching Singori 3 nuclear reactor safely.

(Source – Korea Portal, 15-November-2015)
Eskom CEO Mr. Brian Molefe said no load shedding is expected until the end of April next year and also told Members of Parliament (MPs) South Africa urgently needs more nuclear power in its energy mix.

Mr. Molefe briefed Parliament’s Public Enterprises Committee yesterday.Eighty-seven days with just two and a half hours of load shedding, and Mr. Molefe said the lights are likely to remain on over the holidays and possibly into November next year.

“We do not think that it is possible to continue with an energy mix that excludes nuclear.” He came out in support of the government’s planned nuclear build programme.
When asked about the controversial nuclear build programme, with its estimated price tag of R1 tril-lion, Mr. Molefe didn’t beat around the bush.

“It is feasible to fund and operate further nuclear plants in South Africa and, in fact, it is urgent we do so.” He insisted the programme is doable and said a
nuclear reactor has a life of more than 60 years, but can be paid off around 20 years.

Eskom said the average age of its base load power stations is 34 years, that means unplanned breakdowns, a lot of maintenance, and the risk of load shedding.

While Mr. Molefe’s good news about load shedding was welcomed by the committee, there are concerns about the billions owed by Soweto and other municipalities and whether a shrinking economy has eased pressure on the grid.

The utility’s CEO said maintenance will be stepped up in December, when there’s lower demand for electricity over the holidays. He says this will ensure more units are available to ease the strained grid.

Mr. Molefe said the focus has been on proper planning to carry out maintenance without requiring load shedding. And while there may be problems in winter, he says plans are in place to deal with this.

(Source – Eyewitness News, 05-November-2015)

Last Week Top Headlines of Power Sector....

  • The 4,000 MW Tilaiya ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Jharkhand, abandoned by Reliance Power, is likely to be auctioned afresh as most of its consumers want to avoid litigation. In the meeting held last Tuesday, the procurers of Tilaiya UMPP generally appreciated that paying the Rs 125 crore compensation as per the contract will be the best solution in the interest of the project as legal recourse will only delay it. After paying off the company, the procurers can re-bid the plant.

  • Construction of two 700-MW nuclear power units at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) is progressing fast and preparatory work to install the coolant channels was on. Welding of end shield and calandria is over. Preparation work for core components - coolant channels - has started. It will take six months to complete.

  • National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to NTPC and Bridge and Roof Company (India) Ltd for alleged illegal excavation of sand for construction of 1,600 MW thermal power station at Gardarwara in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

  • The tariff for electricity generated by the Kudankulam NPP will remain at the level set by the Indian Government in 2010 – 2011, with no hikes, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" has said.

  • The Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) would set up a 1,600-MW super critical thermal power plant with a total capital investment of Rs 11,363.18 crore at Basundhara in Sundargarh district.

  • NTPC will invest over Rs.5,000 crore on expansion of Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station near Parawada. The district administration has been approached for allotment of site required for the Brownfield project.

  • Solar manufacturer and solutions provider Waaree Energies Ltd commissioned a 27.5-mw DC solar power plant for Roha Dyechem Pvt Ltd at Bhadla solar park in Rajasthan.

  • The central government will bail out close to 21,400 MW of power plants by assuring coal linkage through new fuel supply agreements (FSAs). These plants comprise the power projects whose commissioning date was delayed due to several reasons, including fuel supply crunch. Of this, 2,415 Mw would get tapering linkage and rest would be long-term linkage.

  • Odisha state government hopes to bag the Baitarani West coal block soon for its PSU, Odisha Thermal Power Corporation (OTPCL), a 50:50 joint venture between Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC).

  • The government is likely to allow companies to divert coal supply to efficient power plants from inefficient plants to generate more electricity with the available fuel.

  • Coal imports dropped by 27.16 per cent to 12.6 million tonnes (MT) last month from a year-ago period on the back of rise in domestic production.

  • The Coal Ministry has made a one-time exception to allow captive power plants to participate in the e-auction for coal by Coal India.

  • In light of there being sufficient coal stocks at thermal power plants across India, producer Coal India Limited (CIL) has been granted greater flexibility in offering higher volumes for sale through e-auction.

  • Relaxing earlier restrictions, an expert panel of the environment ministry has recommended a two-fold increase in the ash content of imported coal from 12% to 25%, giving in to demands of the Association of Power Producers (APP), who are highly dependant on the imported fossil fuel.

  • Of the two key power transmission projects put up for tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB), state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) won the Rs 7,032-crore Vemagiri-II transmission project, one of the costliest projects to come under the bidding route this year.

  • Of the two key power transmission projects put up for tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB), Kalpataru Power Transmission bagged the second project — the Rs 2,240-crore Bhutan inter-link. The project, based in West Bengal, would help in evacuation of power from upcoming hydro projects in Bhutan.

  • Renewable energy firm Gamesa has bagged a 100-MW wind power project from Hero Group to set up 50 wind turbines in Madhya Pradesh.

Virginia Mining Resources would be closely tracking the developments on the subject and other events in the mining & resource sector and bringing you the same.
 

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